Helen Pankhurst criticizes harsh sentences for climate activists, calling them excessive and unjust.
London: Helen Pankhurst, the great-granddaughter of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, spoke out against the sentences given to climate protesters. She described them as heavy-handed and disproportionate.
Her comments came before the Court of Appeal heard challenges from 16 activists. These activists were jailed for disrupting traffic during climate protests.
They received sentences ranging from five years to 15 months. Pankhurst supports their appeal, saying the suffragettes fought hard for their cause. She believes today’s environmental activists are following in their footsteps.
Pankhurst expressed concern over the harsh sentences for peaceful protests. She stated that a repeal of these sentences is the only fair outcome.
Environmental groups like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace UK are also involved in the case. They argue that the sentences are unprecedented for peaceful protest.
The activists were jailed last July for climbing on gantries over the M25. This disruption lasted for four days in November 2022.
Roger Hallam, a co-founder of Just Stop Oil, received a five-year sentence. Other activists received sentences of four years or less.
Several other protesters were jailed for similar actions on the M25. Some received sentences of up to three years.
In a separate incident, two activists were jailed for throwing soup on a Van Gogh painting. They received sentences of two years and 20 months.
Lawyers from Friends of the Earth argue that the government should focus on climate action instead of imprisoning activists. They believe this approach would better address the climate crisis.
Greenpeace UK also criticized the long sentences, stating they reflect poorly on modern Britain.
